SAC elections and open positions for 2023/2024

SAC will be holding elections on October 25, 2023, at 6:30 p.m., at Dovercourt PS. The open positions are listed below, along with descriptions. Please join us and get involved. You can do so by self-nominating or nominating other caregivers who may be interested in playing a more active role on the School Advisory Council. And please come out and vote to help shape the future of SAC and of Dovercourt School.
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Chair or co-chairs (Executive)
Available positions: 1-2
Held last year by: Alejandra González Jiménez and Elaine Hua
Responsibilities:

• Arrange for School Council meetings.
• Prepare agendas for School Council meetings.
• Chair School Council meetings.
• Ensure that minutes of School Council meetings are recorded and maintained.
• Ensure that the Annual Report is completed.
• Facilitate conflict resolution.
• Communicate with the Principal on behalf of the School Council.
• Consult with senior board Staff and Trustees as required on behalf of the School Council.
• Act as Joint Signing Officer.
• Act as ex officio member(s) of School Council (sub)committees and any school committees, including but not limited to School Budget Committee, school Improvement Plan Committee, School Staffing Committee and Caring and Safe Schools' Committee.
• Ensure completion of the School Statements of Needs (SSON) in collaboration with parents/caregivers.
• Observe the School Council’s and/or the Board's Code of Conduct and these By-Laws.

Treasurer (Executive)
Available positions: 1 (+ 1 Alternate)
Held last year by: Ben Peto
Responsibilities:

• Act as custodian of the funds of the School Council.
• Handle receipts and disbursement of School Council monies.
• Keep proper records of all financial transactions.
• Arrange for verification of the School Council’s financial records in June of each year.
• Act as a Joint Signing Officer.
• Adhere to the financial protocol instructions outlined in the School Council Financial Guide.
• Prepare the annual Public-Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) report.
• Observe the School Council’s and/or the Board's Code of Conduct and these By-Laws.

 
Secretary/Recorder (Executive)
Available positions: 1 (+ 1 Alternate)
Held last year by: Nuno Silva (Alternate: Hilary Hall)
Responsibilities:

• Complete records of all meetings in a timely manner
• Assist the Chair/Co-Chair(s) in the distribution of minutes to all School Council members, ensure minutes, once approved, are available to the parent/caregiver body.  
• Responsible for the upkeep of all School Council social media and communications to the parent/caregiver body (e.g. blog, social media, email, newsletters, etc.).
• May act as a Joint Signing Officer.
• Observe the School Council’s and/or the Board's Code of Conduct and these By-Laws.

 
Communications
Available positions: 1-2
Held last year by: Deborah Aarts
Responsibilities:

• Manages SAC’s website, making sure that it is updated with current information on activities and events and our membership.
• Draft SAC content for SAC News and for Dovercourt’s Friday File.
• Website updates.
• Create a form or process to collect a base level of info to support drafting content for website and SAC news.
• Track community engagement with site (website traffic stats) and via volunteer signup form.
• Responsible for dovercourtcouncil@gmail.com account (i.e., ensuring any requests, questions sent to this address are answered in a timely manner).

 
Community Outreach & Ward Rep
Available positions: 1
Held last year by: Vacant
Responsibilities:

• The Community Outreach Representative will be responsible for representing the school community’s perspective in the wider community generally, and more specifically at the Ward Council and with the local Trustee.
• Attend Ward Council meetings to represent the school and communicate information back to the SAC.
• Establish contact with trustee and with parent organizations (e.g. PIAC, People for Education).
• Help build partnerships and links between the school and organizations in the community to enhance educational opportunities for students (for example, the Boys and Girls Club, the SACs of other local schools).
• Bring in topical speakers.

 
Events Team
Available positions: 2-4
Held last year by: Hilary Hall and Stephanie Nause
Responsibilities:

• Helps lead on SAC-led activities (e.g. dance-a-thon, movie nights, Spring Fling, etc.).
• Organize in-class school spirit activities as well as remote/virtual events to engage the school community and achieve fundraising goals.
• General responsibilities: a) Review regulations re: fundraising and TDSB policies and advise council of any conflict in proposed spending and b) Develop a fundraising plan for the year, based on goals and priorities set by the SAC at its first meeting.

    
Enrichment
Available positions: 1
Held last year by: Melanie Kramer
Responsibilities:

• Work with teachers, principal, and SAC to develop ideas for fieldtrips, extra-curricular activities and educational programs.

 
Greening/Eco Team
Available positions: 1-2
Held last year by: Vivian Fleet and Deborah Walsh
Responsibilities:

• Responsible for enhancing environmental awareness of the school community and supervising school’s outdoor green initiatives.
• Key task: maintaining the school’s official ECO status.
• Greening Representative will be responsible for enhancing the environmental awareness of the school community and supervising the school’s outdoor green initiatives.
• General responsibilities:
• a) Assemble a group of volunteers to assist with maintenance of the school gardens, with a priority given to student involvement
•  b) Attend Eco-Team meetings and assist with Eco Day events
• c) Participate in the annual Eco Schools Status Review process
• d)Maintain contact with the TDSB Eco Schools Department regarding new Board-wide environmental initiatives
• e) Keep abreast of advances in ecological/outdoor education
• f) Work with teachers to take advantage of opportunities to use the school’s gardens as a teaching tool and as an outdoor classroom

 
Student Rep
Available positions: 1-2
Held last year by: Vacant

Community Representative
Available positions: 1-2
Past representatives: Dovercourt Boys & Girls Club, Oasis Dufferin Community Centre
Responsibilities:

• This position is appointed. 
• contribute to the discussions of the School Council.
• Represent the community's perspective.
• May participate on any School Council committee.
• Help to build partnerships and links between the school and the community.
• Observe the School Council's and/or the Board's Code of Conduct and these By-Laws.

 
Pride Subcommittee
Available positions: 1
Held last year by: N/A (this subcommittee is new)
Responsibilities:

• Advocate for Dovercourt 2SLGBTQ+ community.
• Organize Pride activities to continue raising awareness and inclusion within the school community.

 
Stop School Cuts Subcommittee:
Available positions: 1
Held last year by: N/A (this subcommittee is new)
Responsibilities:

• Advocate for Dovercourt students’ needs, educational and well-being priorities at the TDSB and at the provincial level.

 
Role of all council members:

• Solicit the views of other parents/caregivers to share with the School Council
• Represent the views and the opinions of the parent/caregiver community.
• Attend and participate in all meetings.
• Participate on School Council committees.
• Encouraged to participate in and to facilitate any events that the School Council holds during the school year.
• Observe the School Council’s and/or the Board's Code of Conduct and these By-Laws.

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